Global Guide to Best Practices in Air Transport of Hatching Eggs, Day-Old Chicks, Poults and Ducklings

Required Storage Temperature Range for HEG consignments: 15 to 18 °C (59 to 64 o F). Extreme or vastly fluctuating environmental temperatures during air transportation can negatively impact HEG and DOC quality and welfare. Low temperatures can be detrimental to the health and development of embryos. High temperatures may also cause the embryo development process to start prematurely, thereby reducing the embryonic viability. Therefore, specific attention to the proper temperature range during transport must be given to ensure the health, welfare and viability of the embryo. Storage at the airport before loading Once the HEG arrive at the airport or to the carrier/handling agent, the HEG need to be held at appropriate temperatures. Some airports have specialized animal lounges with temperature control. For HEG, the correct temperature is 15 to 18 o C (59 to 64 o F). All packaging material must be new, clean and dry and must be kept indoors and separated from wild birds, other avian species and pests (e.g. rodents). All packaging must meet the requirements of the importing country. HEG must be placed on a pallet before they can be stored. On the pallets, egg cases should be stacked in an alternating pattern for maximum stability. Once the egg cases are positioned on the pallet, the pallet should be shrink-wrapped to create one unit and therefore protect against movement and damage. During the whole process, the egg cases and pallets must be protected against rain. Note: Do not stack egg cases more than five layers high. Please store with caution. 5